An aqueous carpet coating composition includes a particulate filler, a polymeric thickener and an aqueous dispersion of a copolymer that includes vinyl acetate units and ethylene units. The dispersion stabilization system includes a) 1.5 to 3 wt % of a combination of polyvinyl alcohols including a1) one or more partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohols with a degree of hydrolysis of 85 to 95 mol % and a Hoeppler viscosity of 10-33 mPa·s, and a2) one or more highly hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohols with a degree of hydrolysis of 98 to 100 mol % and a Hoeppler viscosity of 10-33 mPa·s; and b) 1.5 to 3 wt % of an emulsifier component consisting of one or more nonionic emulsifiers and one or more anionic emulsifiers. The dispersion has a viscosity of ≦1500 mPa·s and the viscosity of the coating composition is 6000 to 7000 mPa·s.